The Washington Redskins signed ex-Dallas Cowboys running back Tashard Choice off waivers and signed him to the roster yesterday. Redskins Hog Heaven turned to Darren Shetler, our Bloguin colleague who covers the Cowboys on The Cowboys Nation blog, for a quick scouting report on Choice. Here’s what he had to say:

“He [Choice] had 2 fumbles on 27 carries this year and is averaging 2.2 yards per carry. When Felix Jones went down a few weeks ago, the staff looked to Choice to become the number one and take Jones’s place but like his entire career inDallas, he proved that he just didn’t have what it takes to be a running back here. That’s not to say that he can’t be a decent running back for someone but certain teams are a high-pressure scenario and Dallas was exactly that since we haven’t found success on the ground since our Emmitt Smith days.

“Unfortunately for Choice, I don’t think Washington is any less of a high pressure situation than Dallas was. He would have been better off to have been claimed by a team likeCleveland. However, sometimes a change of scenery can be the best thing and we know that Mike Shanahan has a certain talent for developing running backs. I just hope the addition of Choice inWashingtondoesn’t come back to kill us in 3 weeks!!”

Choice was waived-injured by the Cowboys who were thought to add him to their Injured Reserve list if he cleared waivers. Says Darren:

“It was a rumor…not sure how valid but I did hear that as well.”

He’s a Redskin now, so I hope the best for Choice. I do not see him as any solution for the running game. In fact, his presence may be blocking Evan Royster’s development. For pure overall organizational improvement, the Redskins have to move to a next-man-up philosophy and build the talent to do exactly that.

About Anthony Brown

Lifelong Redskins fan and blogger about football and life since 2004. Joined MVN's Hog Heaven blog in 2005 and then moved Redskins Hog Heaven to Bolguin Network. Believes that the course of a season is pre-ordained by management decisions made during the offseason. Can occasionally be found on the This Given Sunday blog and he does guest posts.